Rihanna takes to Twitter to rally world leaders for education

International super star and Global Partnership for Education Global Ambassador Rihanna set Twitter on fire recently, calling on world leaders to prioritize education financing and GPE’s replenishment. Within one day, her tweets were trending, retweets were increasing by the thousands each second.

Hot on the heels of releasing a video about her recent visit to Malawi with GPE and Global Citizen, Rihanna tweeted to G20 leaders, calling on them to prioritize funding for global education when they met in Hamburg, Germany and to support GPE’s replenishment.

The reaction has been phenomenal, with thousands of people taking to twitter to support Rihanna’s call to action for global education. Global leaders reacted too.

Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri and Seibert of Germany responded and publicly reaffirmed the primacy of education in their country’s policy goals, with Macri’s team also announcing that education will be at the center of his G20 presidency in 2018.

Hi @Rihanna, education is a key area of German development policy. We have nearly doubled spending since 2013.Thanks for spreading the word! https://t.co/ff4QX1rb0s

Worldwide media coverage

Rihanna advocacy for GPE was covered by hundreds of media outlets across the world from the BBC to Time magazine to L’Express.

With a following on social media the size of a small country (75 million and counting) the BBC article purported that perhaps Rihanna might get a mention at the G20 summit herself.

Alas no mention for Rihanna, but the world leaders heard her and the thousands of activist groups who tirelessly pushed the G20 leaders to prioritize education.

The G20 Leaders Declaration: Shaping an Interconnected World emphasizes the importance of education in achieving sustainability, women’s empowerment, bridging the digital divide and boosting employment. The historic recognition of education in the G20 communique makes specific reference to the role of GPE, Education Cannot Wait and an international financing facility for education.

Rihanna’s Diamond Ball raises over $5 million

At a Rihanna charity event, she will encourage you to drink heavily – so that you donate generously.

The pop star played the role of slick bartender at her third Diamond Ball on Thursday night in New York City.

“The more you drink, the more inspired you’ll be to donate money … and help kids around the world,” said Rihanna, the founder of the Clara Lionel Foundation, which promotes education and arts globally.

The benefit raised more than $5 million.

Dave Chappelle worked as Rihanna’s right-hand man. He first told jokes and later joined the auctioneer onstage, even purchasing a Retna art piece for $180,000.

When selling two tickets to the Obama Foundation Fall Summit in Chicago, Chappelle said he would throw in his pocket square. It jumped from $200,000 to $201,000.

It eventually sold for $275,000.

Jay-Z, Beyonce, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx and Trevor Noah were some of the A-listers who attended the black-tie event, which included a video message from former President Barack Obama. He thanked Rihanna “for the great work” she’s doing with her foundation.

“You’ve become a powerful force,” Obama said, in helping people find “hope” and “dignity.”

Rihanna launched the foundation in 2012 and named it after her grandparents Clara and Lionel Braithwaite. The organization has a scholarship program and an oncology and nuclear medicine center in Barbados, where Rihanna was born and raised.

3rd Annual Diamond Ball in New York

On Thursday, Rihanna showed up in a classically beautiful black gown to her third annual Diamond Ball charity event. Within the past week the icon has debuted her brand new beauty line Fenty Beauty, held a BMX fashion show, and dropped a pair of special edition Creepers to benefit her charity the Clara Lionel Foundation.

Her Diamond Ball is also a benefit to raise money for the Clara Lionel Foundation. The foundation created in 2012 supports education, health, and emergency initiatives around the globe, and helps students from Caribbean countries attend college in the U.S. Last month, Rihanna met with French president Emmanuel Macron to discuss global education initiatives, and earlier this year Harvard named her Humanitarian of the Year.

Just like Crop Over, the Diamond Ball has become a consistent source of some of Rihanna’s most iconic looks.

Held at Cipriani Wall Street the annual bash was a star-studded affair.